A dog and a chicken.......

This is Angela's Spike. He came in to the clinic yesterday for castration. It was the first time hubby help in the operation so I took this photo just for remembrance. I am no dog lover ok; I love cats but over the years my affection are more towards my own babies and not kittens or puppies. Anyway, the operation was done in less than 1 1/2 hours and by that time they were so messy.........

The enlightenment for the day was when a guy brought in his chicken for consultation......

It was funny....... I just had to tell everybody......

but again if it is something or some one's treasure and love so much; it doesn't make any difference, right; be it a German Shepherd or a Fighting Cock. So who's laughing now?

Service level

We had just realized that Ezra need not go to school until next week. Ha!!! How 'sensitive' can one be.... Anyway, I got to do things that I need to do today and Am happy about it. Do you ever have the feeling that when you are so used to "Nearly Perfection" you wouldn't be happy with just ok - that was how I felt about the process of opening an account with local bank!!! But I refuse to go low to that standard so I am just going to leave that at this.

EPF...... emmmm service very fast but I feel my first contact should be more beneficial. I am talking about the receptionist. She should get all the form ready with her. I had to get a number and wait just to be given a form (by guy called Hardy), filled the form, went back to her again just to get another number to checked whether I filled it correctly, done so; went back to her to get another number just to be called by Hardy again to acknowledged my application.

At least I did all these before noon.... and the fact that Hardy was using baju melayu and in the spirit of raya; I refuse to go low to that standard and so, I am again leaving it at this.

Catherine is on her way back from the state (she's on the plane as I type..). She was there for 3 years and I just want to welcome her home and I can't wait to meet up with her...

Selamat Hari Raya...

I'll be having a long break next week. I don't know whether I have time to do my personal things but I guess what ever it is, I'll make it a point to enjoy it. Selamat Hari Raya to all my Muslim readers and friends.

The truth.... (The Penan Stories)

"If you have the time, do visit the Penans and write fairly about them... The reports on the sexual abuse of the Penans are not true." - Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman (Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Office; Oct 19, 2008)

By A. Kathirasen (NST 13 September 2009) MY heart goes out to the Penans. Last month, I read that a group of Penans was starving. I was shocked. After all, this is Malaysia with the twin towers and beautiful Putrajaya and a prospering middle class. I felt relieved when Ulu Rejang member of parliament Datuk Billy Abit Joo denied that anyone was starving. Then, in the same New Straits Times report, he was quoted as saying the Penans at Long Tanyit and Long Kajang had had a poor rice harvest because the crop was destroyed by insects and monkeys. He said there had always been a shortage of food because of logging activities, which were destroying the food source of the Penans. Later, I read about a group of people, including from Peninsular Malaysia, making the arduous journey to the Kapit Division to deliver more than 10 tonnes of food to about 1,500 Penans. The headman of Long Tanyit, Salu Ugat, was quoted as saying they were facing a serious food shortage. This week, I read that allegations of Penan women and girls being raped and sexually abused by timber company workers were true. A task force established by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry last year has ascertained that at least eight girls and women had been raped and molested in the Baram district. The task force's 111-page report said schoolgirls were very vulnerable to sexual abuse because they depended on timber vehicles to transport them to and from school. Otherwise, they would have to walk for hours or not go to school. On Friday, the head of the Criminal Investigations Department in Sarawak, Senior Assistant Commissioner 2 Huzir Mohamed was quoted as saying: "We need the names of specific victims, where they can be found, more accurate information on the dates and places of the incidents and descriptions of the people who had committed these (sexual crimes).... The ministry must furnish us with more details." Hmm. I always thought it was the job of the police to get such details. The report certainly raises questions about police investigations into the rape allegations. But, more than that, it is about the attitude of Sarawak leaders towards their people. When the Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) revealed the allegations on Sept 15 last year, Deputy Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu was quoted as saying, on Sept 25, that the claim was baseless. "Show proof," he cried. "Tell us which Penan settlement. I have not heard of such complaints from the Penan community leaders in my many visits to Ulu Baram." Hmmm. Maybe Jabu needs to make more visits. He also dismissed the BMF as a "bunch of people who are nothing in their own country but like to sensationalise events elsewhere". On Friday, he said he believed the Penans were manipulated by Western non-governmental organisations into telling lies to the task force. Hmmmm. I pity Jabu. But then, this is the malaise of many in authority. The first reaction to any negative news is to reject it, or to ascribe an evil intention. The task force's report also pointed out the problems faced by the Penans, such as a lack of access to healthcare and education. It added: "All these issues are closely related to imbalanced development. The lack of infrastructure such as roads and public transport make it difficult for the Penan to communicate with the outside world, including government agencies." Therein lies the problem. If schoolgirls have to depend on timber lorry drivers to get to school, incidences of sexual abuse will continue. And it is not just the Penans who are out in the cold. There are also other tribes and groups, such as the Sabans, most of whom still don't have any documentation to even show they are Malaysians. Perhaps politicians should make more frequent trips into the interior areas; at the very least, they will get more vitamin D. Sarawak is a rich state. Surely its politicians can accelerate the distribution of the fruits of development to a wider populace; surely, it's time to ensure no child has to walk for seven hours to get to school; surely it's time to ensure no sick person has to travel hundreds of kilometres -- on foot and in timber company vehicles -- to get treatment. If logging activities are causing misery to their people, then Sarawak politicians have an obligation to attend to them; if loss of native customary land is the problem, then it is incumbent upon the leaders to resolve the issue. People should come first, not profits. And they can start with the Penans. Don't forget, they are Malaysian citizens, too. The Sarawak government must show it has a heart.

R.I.P Ryan Daniel........

It's a sad night because we just lost one member of our family. He was my brother-in-law, Vivia's (my husband's youngest sister) husband. He died after complaining of tiredness while playing football. He left behind his wife, his son (barely 2 years old), his mother, a brother and a sister with their families. He was to be 30 years old next month and they have only been married for 2 years.

I made entry on the birth of his son, Robin Ryenson dated January 15, 2008 and I published some photos of them together in my entry dated March 23, 2008.

Although you will be missed but we know you are at a better place. Rest in Peace Ryan.

I am back!!!!

I just got the PC fixed and I like to let you guys know that I am back and I will be posting some items soon. My schedule are pack this week. Over the weekend I will be busy at Anddy's clinic and there's the Parish's Sale that I need to go to. So guys..... Catch up with ya later.

Cao.